The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provides safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems—including channels, harbors, and waterways—to support global commerce, national security, and public recreation.

Within this mission, the USACE Rock Island District's Operations Division manages the operations and maintenance of the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway 9-foot Navigation Channel Project. The District’s area of responsibility primarily covers Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, along with a small portion of Wisconsin.

To maintain a safe and reliable channel, the District relies on a combination of navigation structures and dredging. Sedimentation naturally accumulates in the channel due to regular silt movement, erosion from high water or heavy rains, and shifting river currents. USACE routinely removes this material using mechanical or hydraulic dredging methods. In strict accordance with environmental regulations, the removed sediment is placed in designated areas along the river, many of which are specifically designed for beneficial use and ecological support.

The Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) is a critical initiative designed to support long-term sustainability of navigation on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway. The program identifies, evaluates, and secures placement sites for dredged material. Sediment removed during dredging is evaluated for placement through the DMMP, which ensures materials are managed in a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible way.